hadith about the Abdaal
July 3rd, 2008It is obligatory for Muslims to believe that the abdal or Substitute-saints exist — so called because, as the Prophet said (see #3 below), “None of them dies except Allah substitutes another in his place” — and that they are among the religious leaders of the Community concerning whom there is no doubt among Muslims. No less than Ibn Taymiyya writes at the end of his `Aqida wasitiyya:
The true adherents of Islam in its pristine purity are Ahl al-Sunnat wal-Jama`a. In their ranks the truthful saints (siddiqin), the martyrs, and the righteous are to be found. Among them are the great men of guidance and illumination, of recorded integrity and celebrated virtue. The Substitutes (abdal) and the Imams of religion are to be found among them and the Muslims are in full accord concerning their guidance. These are the Victorious Group about whom the Prophet said: “A group within my Community manifestly continues to be in the truth. Neither those who oppose them nor those who abandon them can do them harm, from now on until the Day of Resurrection.”[32]
The Prophet emphasized in many authentic narrations the benefits brought to all creation through the intercession of Allah’s saints and their standing with Him. Suyuti in his fatwa on the abdal in his Hawi li al-fatawi provided many examples of this type of universal intercession from which we quote the following:
1. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal says in his Musnad (1:112):
… The people of Syria were mentioned in front of `Ali ibn Abi Talib while he was in Iraq, and they said: “Curse them, O Commander of the Believers.” He replied: “No, I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “The Substitutes (al-abdal) are in Syria and they are forty men, every time one of them dies, Allah substitutes another in his place. By means of them Allah brings down the rain, gives (Muslims) victory over their enemies, and averts punishment from the people of Syria.”" al-Haythami said: “The men in its chains are all those of the sahih except for Sharih ibn `Ubayd, and he is trustworthy (thiqa).”[33]
2. al-Hakim narrated the following which he graded sound (sahih), and al-Dhahabi confirmed him:
`Ali said: “Do not curse the people of Syria, for among them are the Substitutes (al-abdal), but curse their injustice.”
Note that any religious knowledge unattainable through ijtihad and authentically conveyed from one of the Companions is considered a hadith by the experts of that science.
3. Tabarani said in his Mu`jam al-awsat:
Anas said that the Prophet said: “The earth will never lack forty men similar to the Friend of the Merciful [Prophet Ibrahim], and through them people receive rain and are given help. None of them dies except Allah substitutes another in his place.” Qatada said: “We do not doubt that al-Hasan [al-Basri] is one of them.”
Ibn Hibban narrates it in al-Tarikh through Abu Hurayra as: “The earth will never lack forty men similar to Ibrahim the Friend of the Merciful, and through whom you are helped, receive your sustenance, and receive rain.”
4. Imam Ahmad also narrated in the Musnad (5:322):
The Prophet said: “The Substitutes in this Community are thirty like Ibrahim the Friend of the Merciful. Every time one of them dies, Allah substitutes another one in his place.”
Hakim Tirmidhi cites it in Nawadir al-usul and Ahmad’s student al-Khallal in his Karamat al-awliya’. Haythami said its men are those of the sahih except `Abd al-Wahid who was declared trustworthy by al-`Ijli and Abu Zar`a (as well as Yahya ibn Ma`in).
5. Abu Dawud through three different good chains in his Sunan (English #4273), Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (6:316), Ibn Abi Shayba in his Musannaf, Abu Ya`la, al-Hakim, and Bayhaqi narrated:
Umm Salama the wife of the Prophet said: “Disagreement will occur at the death of a Caliph and a man of the people of Madina will come forth flying to Mecca. Some of the people of Mecca will come to him, bring him out against his will and swear allegiance to him between the Corner and the Maqam. An expeditionary force will then be sent against him from Syria but will be swallowed up in the desert between Mecca and Madina, and when the people see that, the Substitutes (abdal) of Syria and the best people (`asaba) of Iraq will come to him and swear allegiance to him…”
6. Imam Ahmad cited in Kitab al-zuhd, also Ibn Abi al-Dunya, Abu Nu`aym, Bayhaqi, and Ibn `Asakir narrated from Julays:
Wahb ibn Munabbih said: I saw the Prophet in my sleep, so I said: “Ya Rasulallah, where are the Substitutes (budala’) of your Community?” So he gestured with his hand towards Syria. I said: “Ya Rasulallah, aren’t there any in Iraq?” He said: “Yes, Muhammad ibn Wasi`, Hassan ibn Abi Sinan, and Malik ibn Dinar, who walks among the people similarly to Abu Dharr in his time.”
Nawawi in Bustan al-`arifin (1985 ed. p. 31) mentions that the hadith master Hammad ibn Salama ibn Dinar (d. 167) was considered to be one of the abdal.
source: www.sunnah.org
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Sufi Terminology Derived from Hadith
T he misunderstandings prevalent among the masses about thevarious offices of the aulia and the consequent attempts to create ill-will against them on charges of heresy must be clarified and dispelled. While a de tailed discussion follows in the next chapter, a number of Hadith, from animmense treasure on the subject, are:
Abu Na‘eemwrites in his Hilya al-Aulia quoting the Prophet, “There will be five hundred Akhyar(virtuous) among my followers in every age and forty ‘Abdal. This number will not decrease. When one dies from among the latter, the vacancy will be filled, by a Divine ar rangement, from the former.”
Narrates Imam Ahmad, “There will be thirty‘Abdal among the followers of the Prophet whose hearts will resemble that of ProphetIbrahim . Any vacancy due to death of anyone will be filled up im mediately by Divine arrangement.”
Narrates Tibrani, “There will be thirty ‘Abdal among my followers. The earth shall owe its existence to them. They will be instrumental inbringing rains and ALLAH ’s succour.”
Abu Asakar quotes the Prophet, “The ‘Abdal are in Syria, they are forty men. They bring rains and victory against your enemies, because of themthe afflictions of mankind are removed by the Almighty.”
Narrates Tibrani, “The ‘Abdal will be in Syria, because of them youwill receive ALLAH ’shelp and provisions.”
Narrates Imam Ahmad, “‘Abdal are in Syria and they are forty men. Any vacancies due to death are filled up byHis plan. Because of them you get rains and ALLAH ’shelp in encounters with your enemies. They are also instrumental in averting Divine retribution from the people of Syria.”
Narrates Khalil in his Karamat-e Aulia and Wahlmi in his Musnad-e Firdaos, “‘Abdal are forty men and women. Casualties among them are replaced accordingly by a Divine arrangement.”
Narrates al-Hakam, “‘Abdal are from among His slaves.”
Narrates Ibn-e Abi Dunya, “The identification of ‘Abdal among my followers is that they do not invoke curse on anything.”
Narrates Ibn-e Habban, “The earth shall not be without thirty and eighty righteous men, who shall be like Prophet Ibrahim . Because of them your afflictions will be removed and rains and provisions shall be bestowed on you.”
Narrates Imam Bahaiqi, “The ‘Abdal from among my followers shall enter Paradise not by virtue of their deeds alone, but by ALLAH’s Mercy, munificence of their souls and enlightenment of their hearts.”
Narrates Ibn-e ‘Adi, “‘Abdal are forty, twenty two in Syria and eight een in ‘ Iraq. Casualties due to death are replaced under His arrange ment. Doomsday shall follow their passing away, by ALLAH’s Command.”
Narrates Tibrani, “Forty men who are like Prophet Ibrahim shall al ways inhabit the earth. They will be the cause of rains and ALLAH’s help to you. When anyone passes away, another will take his place by a Divine arrangement.”
Narrates Abu Na‘eem, “There will always remain among my follow ers forty men, whose hearts shall be like that of Prophet Ibrahim . Due to their blessing, sufferings of mankind will be removed- they are called ‘Abdal.”
A mention has also been made about Qutb by some of the scholars of Hadith, for example, Abu Na‘eem in his Hilya declares that a number of Hadith are available in corroboration of this point. Narrates at-Tirmizi and Abu Na‘eem, “There will be among my followers some foremost in ALLAH’s nearness and they will be there in all ages.”
Note : The above narrations have been critically examined. ‘Allama Sa yuti quotes about twenty Hadith from books and narrations on the subject of ‘Abdal. He grades all of them as authentic. ‘Abdal being a common factor in all the aforementioned Hadith, his existence will have to be con ceded. The book referred by ‘Allama Sayuti is al-Khabr ad-Dal min Wujud al-Qutb wa Nujaba wal-Abdal.
src: http://www.naqshbandiaowaisiah.com/library/dalael_us_salook/chapter10.htm
